Startupnews KW 23 - 2025

INNO INVEST expands management team. BioNTech and Bristol Myers Squibb enter into partnership. BRYCK Startup Alliance applies for European deep-tech center. Evaneos acquires Odys. i-doit takes over CONTECHNET. Xplain Data strengthens Siemens Xcelerator. Deel reaches billion mark in run rate. REWE Group invests USD 17 million in fulfillmenttools. Jua secures USD 11 million. BayStartUP with new dual leadership.

Investments

Jua secures USD 11 million to further develop its AI-based earth simulation

Zurich-based startup Jua has closed a Series A financing round of USD 11 million, led by Ananda Impact Ventures and Future Energy Ventures. The company intends to use the capital to accelerate the international rollout of its Earth Intelligence Platform. This is an AI-based earth simulation that provides energy traders with precise forecasts for faster and more profitable decisions. Jua relies on its own Large Physics Model EPT-2.0, which significantly outperforms traditional weather models and AI solutions from large tech companies according to benchmarks. Co-founder Marvin Gabler will take on the role of CEO as part of the round. The company plans to further expand its platform, particularly in the energy sector, and tap into new markets.

Tequipy receives over 700,000 euros for global expansion and automation

The Polish start-up Tequipy, which specializes in automated IT equipment management for companies working remotely, has raised over 700,000 euros in its first round of financing. The round was led by Unfold.vc, accompanied by several business angels. The company already supports over 100 international customers and generated over 310,000 euros in revenue in April 2025. Tequipy intends to use the fresh capital to further develop its platform technologically, drive international expansion and expand AI-based functions to further automate processes such as device distribution, retrieval and license management.

REWE Group invests USD 17 million in fulfillment tools for global expansion

REWE Group is investing USD 17 million in the Cologne-based software company fulfillmenttools to promote its international expansion as a provider of distributed order management systems (DOMS). The platform, which was spun off from REWE digital in 2020, enables retailers to process orders intelligently and data-based through advanced order routing. fulfillmenttools already has customers such as Thalia on board and offers a scalable solution for omnichannel retailers worldwide.

Cooperations

Xplain Data strengthens Siemens Xcelerator with Causal AI

Xplain Data becomes part of the open digital business platform Siemens Xcelerator, which supports companies worldwide in their digital transformation. With its patented Causal AI technology, Xplain Data extends the Siemens ecosystem with advanced analytics and automation capabilities for industrial manufacturing processes. The solution is based on ObjectAnalytics and enables the automatic identification of causal causes for quality problems. The integration is based on a successful collaboration in the area of PCB production and is now to be used along the entire value chain.

Strategic partnership for the development of BNT327

BioNTech and Bristol Myers Squibb have entered into a global partnership to jointly develop and commercialize the bispecific antibody BNT327, which targets PD-L1 and VEGF-A and is intended to be used as a novel immunotherapy for various solid tumor types. The antibody is in advanced clinical development with ongoing and planned phase 3 trials in lung and breast cancer, among others. Both companies will share development, commercialization, profits and losses equally. BioNTech will receive an upfront payment of USD 1.5 billion and potential milestone payments of up to USD 7.6 billion. The aim of the collaboration is to accelerate clinical development and fully evaluate the potential of BNT327 as a new treatment option in oncology.

M & A

Evaneos founds SaaS subsidiary and acquires ERP software Odys

Evaneos acquires the ERP software "Odys" and founds its own SaaS subsidiary to offer local travel agencies worldwide a holistic digital solution. A comprehensive 360° SaaS platform is to be created by 2026, combining Odys with the existing payment solution "PayTravel". The new offering is aimed at both existing partner agencies and external providers and is intended to centrally bundle booking processes, project management, financial management and customer communication. The new unit will be managed by Odys co-founder Alexia Lafitau, with technical leadership from Evaneos CTO Olivier Madre.

i-doit takes over CONTECHNET

The IT documentation specialist i-doit acquires the German software provider CONTECHNET, known for solutions in the areas of information security, IT contingency planning and data protection. With this acquisition, i-doit, supported by Main Capital Partners, strengthens its portfolio in the area of IT Operations Management (ITOM). CONTECHNET brings more than 400 customers and 40 partners into the group. The combined solution from i-doit and CONTECHNET will enable companies to manage IT assets, security measures and contingency planning in an integrated manner. Both companies see great potential in the merger for product development, market expansion and customer benefits.

Personnel

INNO INVEST expands management team with Swiss financial expert

INNO INVEST is strengthening its management team with the arrival of Marcel Moog, who previously worked in the management of the Swiss asset manager DCP Client Partner AG. Following approval by BaFin, Moog will take on central tasks as managing director and shareholder in the further development of the liability umbrella business and asset management of company founder Herbert Schmitt, who is gradually retiring. Together with Managing Director Stefan Schmitt, Moog will drive forward the strategic orientation and the expansion of partnerships. With his international expertise and service-oriented approach, he intends to further strengthen the offering for asset managers, family offices and advisors.

BayStartUP with new dual leadership: Barbara Dombay becomes Managing Director

On June 1, 2025, Barbara Dombay was appointed Co-Managing Director of BayStartUP and will manage the company together with Dr. Carsten Rudolph. Dombay has been with the company since 2012 and has been instrumental in building up BayStartUP's investor network, which has now brokered over 600 million euros in seed financing. With the new dual leadership, BayStartUP aims to further develop the Bavarian startup ecosystem, particularly in the areas of early-stage financing, SME networking and growth support

More exciting news

BRYCK Startup Alliance applies for European deep-tech center in the Ruhr area

The BRYCK Startup Alliance has applied in the nationwide EXIST lighthouse competition "Startup Factories" of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy to establish a leading innovation center for deep-tech startups in the Ruhr area. The initiative, a joint venture between the RAG-Stiftung, the University Alliance Ruhr, the Initiativkreis Ruhr and the BRYCK innovation center, aims to establish over 1,000 start-ups and 200 scaling deep-tech start-ups with over one billion euros in raised capital by 2030. The BRYCK Startup Alliance is one of the 15 finalists in the competition, in which up to ten startup factories across Germany will receive funding of up to 10 million euros each.

Deel reaches billion mark in run rate

Deel, provider of a global payroll and HR platform, achieved an annual run rate of over one billion US dollars for the first time in the first quarter of 2025. This makes the company, which was founded in 2019, one of the fastest growing SaaS providers in the world. Compared to the previous year, Deel increased its revenue in Germany by 59% and recorded global revenue growth of 75%. Over 35,000 companies with 1.25 million employees in more than 150 countries use the platform. With an integrated product architecture and strategic acquisitions such as PaySpace, Hofy, Zavvy and Assemble, Deel is strengthening its position as a central infrastructure for global HR management. The company has been profitable since 2023 and plans to further expand its role as a pioneer of modern working models through further AI innovations and product integration.